Legumes are in the vegetable family, with common members being chickpeas, black/red/kidney beans, green beans, black-eyed peas, soybeans and lentils. They’re called ‘powerhouse foods,’ with lentils being especially well-regarded. Nutrition-wise, lentils are an excellent source of protein, loaded with potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and fiber, and a great resource for vegetarians, or folks sensitive to gluten. They’re…
Salad
Panzanella with Peaches, Mint & Cucumber
Like many, I’ve been organizing drawers and closets lately – I guess it’s what we do when we have extra time on our hands, and are trying to regain some sense of control in our lives, in spite of uncontrollable circumstances. . . While sifting through photos, I came across these: I remember the day…
Chopped Salad with Mango & Basil Dressing
It’s peak mango season in Florida, which means backyard trees are dripping with fruit, and grocery store bins are filled to the rims. There are more than 500 varieties of mangoes, but common supermarket varieties you’ll find include Tommy Adkins (large red, juicy), Keitt, and Honey. And if you’re really lucky (like if you’re in…
Vintage Seafoam Salad
Summer is on its way and we’re feeling the heat here in Florida. To cool things down, I decided to make a dish that’s not only refreshing, but easy. It even jiggles. Yes, it’s a Jello-O® salad! Jell-O has its origins in gelatin (around since the 15th century), but I recently learned that the sweet, dessert…
Brussels Sprout, Pear & Prosciutto Salad
Hard to believe we’re seeing memes on social media counting down days to Christmas, when Thanksgiving is just 76 days away! Basically, it’s a good time to start queuing up ideas for holiday entertaining. I’m sure you’ve got lots of family-faves like green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and grandma’s pumpkin pie on your menus….
Summer Crab Salad
Summer is in full swing — a great time to make a dish that’s not only tasty, but also, easy to transport to beach, pool, or picnic. So when the folks at Edible Sarasota asked me to create a crab recipe for their Summer issue, I decided on a salad, but one that’s a little different…
Pasta Salad with Basil & Mint Pesto
I adore pasta. It’s one of my weaknesses. To me, nothing screams comfort food more than a warm bowl of pasta with a big spoon. When paired with a rich/savory sauce or slathered in butter and salt, it just makes me happy. Fortunately I don’t have a diagnosed condition that forces me to stay away from…
Panzanella with Zucchini & Basil
This week’s blog post is actually a re-post from May, 2018. It’s my birthday week and I’ve got a big platter of work projects, as well as, an overwhelming desire to play hooky from my kitchen! So I decided to give renewed love to a dish that’s not only tasty, but also, perfect for…
Wahoo Salad & Green Goddess-Inspired Dressing
Fishing friends gave me a beautiful piece of Wahoo this week, so I quickly put it into action. It’s one of my (and hubby’s) faves. If you’ve never had Wahoo, PLEASE put it on your list of fish to try at a restaurant or fish market. It’s sort of like Swordfish – white, flaky, sweet,…
Grilled Pineapple & Shrimp Salad with Citrus-Thyme Dressing
Spring break in Florida is a busy time of year! Visitors from cold climates love to escape wintery conditions, and we in Florida welcome them with open arms. True, it’s a little busy on the roads, our beaches are packed to the gills, and getting reservations at restaurants is challenging unless you’re willing to dine…
Farro Salad with Preserved Lemon, Basil & Edamame
Grain salad = easy + portable + hearty + healthy + delicious. I’ve made lots of them and have picked up a few tips to make them especially yummy: Any grain works. Each offers unique texture, so pick what you like like farro, wheat berries, barley, quinoa, spelt or millet. Wild grain rice is also…
Winter Citrus Salad
Winter has a way of bringing a bit of gloominess to our homes, especially if we live in an area where clouds shield us from the sun for days and days and the weather seems to be assaulting us from all angles. Here in Florida, you may be surprised to learn that it’s not always…